Evaporative cooler and pad frame latch means therefor



Jan. 19, 1965 A. D. GOETTL ETAL EVAPORATIVE COOLER AND PAD FRAME LATCHMEANS THEREFOR Original Filed Dec. 28, 1959 INVENTOR. ADAM D.GOETTL ANDBY JOHN. GOETTL United States Patent "ice s 166 162 nvaronarrvn eoouinAND ran FRAME LATCH MEANS anon- Adam D. Goettl and John Goettl, Phoenix,Aria, assignors to McGraw-Edison Company, Elgin, Ill., 2 corporation ofDelaware I Original application Dec. 28, 1959, Ser; No. 862,36, newPatent No. 3,071,218, dated Jan. 1, 1963. Divided and this applicationApr, 16, 1962, Ser. No. 187,781 4 laims. (Cl. 189-36) This inventionrelates to a pad frame latch means for evaporative coolers and moreparticularly to a latch means for evaporative coolers which functions toprovide facility in the removal of pad frames from evaporative coolers.

The present application is a division of our former application for AnEvaporative Cooler and Pad Frame Latch Means Therefor, Serial No.862,396, filed December 28, 1959, now Patent No. 3,071,218.

Various devices have been used to retain evaporative cooler pad framesin position with respect to the main frame of an evaporative cooler,however, many of these devices are difficult to operate and requiretools for the removal or replacement of pad frames with respect to themain frame of an evaporative cooler.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a padframe latch means for evaporative coolers which is manually operablewithout the use of tools and which provides facility in the removal orreplacement of an evaporative cooler pad frame relative to the mainframe of an evaporative cooler.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pad frame latch-meansfor evaporative coolers wherein a spring loaded latch member normallytends to hold a pad frame securely in position relative to the mainframe of an evaporative cooler whereby the latch may be actuated againstits spring loading to remove a pad frame from the mainframe of theevaporat-ive cooler.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel pad frame latchmeans for evaporative coolers which is located in a corner member of anevaporative cooler main frame so that the latch means may operate inconjunction with a pair of adjacent pad frames at each corner of theevaporative cooler. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a pad frame latch meansfor evaporative coolers wherein a single spring disposed in a cornerframe member of an evaporative cooler is useful to exert a yieldableforce upon a pair of latch members disposed to engage adjacent padframes abutting a corner frame member of the evaporative cooler mainframe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pad frame latch meansfor evaporative coolers wherein the latch means is provided with asingle lever alternately movable .in opposite directions to actuaterelease latch elements engageable with a pair of evaporative cooler padframes abutted to a corner member of the evaporative cooler main frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pad frame latch meansfor evaporative coolers which is very simple and economical ofconstruction and which is very durable in operation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from thefollowing specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an evaporative cooler showing a padframe latch means thereon and constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentarysectional view taken from the line 2-2of FIG. l'showing the latch means of the invention supported on a cornerframe member of an evaporative cooler and showing by broken lines, one

of the latch elements in open position and the other in closed positionrelative to the pad frame;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary sectional.

main frarne of the evaporative cooler between the corner members 26 andforming sides of the evaporative cooler are evaporative cooler padframes 28. These padframes in FIG. 3 of the drawings. These ledgebearing portions 34 are arcuate in cross section and rest upon a fulcrumedge 36 which is actually the upper edge of the pan 24. Thus, the padframes 28 are pivotally mounted on the upper edge 36 of the pan 24 andmay be pivoted outwardly in the direction of the arrow A when releasedby the pad frame latch means of the invention. This pad 66 to form afulcrum between the lever 72 and the wire 64. p w

'wire 64 project.

frame latch means of the invention is provided with a plurality of latchmeans 64, two of which are located on each corner frame member 26' theupper edge portions of the pad frames 28'. l

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the corner :fram

member 26 is provided with openings 60, one of which is near eachvertical edge of the corner member and through which latch arm portions62 of a resilient latch The portions 62 are engageable with the outersides of evaporative cooler pad frames 28 adjacent to the corner framemember 2% and these portions 62 are integrally connected by means of aspring coil portion 66 of the wire 64.

corner frame 26 so that the handle '74 is operable to retract either ofthe latch portions 62 of the wire 64.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen" ,that the yoke 7t)surrounds both of the 'arcuate portions tisand that an angularly anddownwardly directed end 78 of the handle member 72 is pivoted inside thewire coil The yoke 79 being made of wireis spot welded to the wireactuating lever 72 and is freely movable over the arcuate portions 68 ofthe wire 64 so that it may be used for reciprocal operation of the latchportion 62 relative to the pad frames 28 for locking them into the mainframe of the cooler or releasing them therefrom, as desired.

When the lever 72 is moved to a broken line position F, as shown in FIG.2 of the drawings, the latch 62 is released to the broken line positionG while the lever 72 may be moved in the opposite direction to releasethe latch 62 at the opposite end of the wire 64. It will be seen thatwhen the lever 72 is in the broken line position F, the yoke 70 slidesover one arcuate loop 63 while retracting the other one.

' It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various PatentedJan. 19,. 1965 modifications of the present invention may be resorted toin a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the followingclaims.

We claim: 4 a a 1. In a pad frame latch means for evaporative Coolersthe combination of: an evaporative cooler main frame having a cornerframe member; evaporative cooler pad frames adjacent thereto; latchmeans movably mounted in thereof by said lever.

ing each of said portions 3. In a pad frame latch means for evaporativecoolers a combination of: an evaporative cooler main frame having acorner frame member; an evaporative cooler pad frame adjacent thereto; alatch spring member located at an inner side of said corner framemember; means holding said latch spring member on said corner membersaid corner frame member; having an opening therein adjacent said coolerpad frame; a portion of said latch spring member projecting outwardlythrough said opening beyond the outer side of said evaporative coolerpad frame and normally resiliently engaging the outer side of saidevaporative cooler pad frame; and lever means conmember; said latchmeans having opposite ends, one of which carries said pad frame holdingportion and the other end of which carries a similar portion, saidcorner member having openings therein through which said first mentionedand similar portions extend.

2. In a pad frame latch means for evaporative coolers the combinationof: an evaporative cooler main framehaving a corner frame member;evaporative cooler pad frames adjacent thereto; latch means movablymounted in said corner frame member and having a pad frame holdingportion projecting outwardly beyond the outer side of one of saidevaporative cooler pad frames and engaging the outer side thereof; levermeans connected to said latch means and a spring portion of said latchmeans tending to hold said latch means in engagement with said one padframe to hold 'it in position relative to said corner frame member; saidlever means being a single lever member; said corner member having anopening through which said lever extends outwardly of said cornermember; said latch means having opposite ends, one of which carries saidpad frame holding portion and the 'other'end of which carries asimilarportiomsaid corner member having openings therein through whichsaid first mentioned and similar portions extend; said lever disposedbetween said portions and means connectnected to said latch member forpivoting it out of engagement with said pad frame to release it relativeto said corner frame member. i

4. In a pad frame latch means for evaporative coolers a combination of:an evaporative cooler main frame hav-' ing a corner frame member; anevaporative cooler pad frame adjacent thereto; a latch spring memberlocated at an inner side of said corner frame member; means hold,- ingsaid latch spring member onsaid corner member said corner frame memberhaving an opening therein adjacent said cooler pad frame; a portion ofsaid latch spring member projecting outwardly through said opening beyond the outer side of said evaporative cooler pad frame" and normallyresiliently engaging the outer side of said' evaporative cooler padframe; and lever means connected to said latch member for pivoting itout of engagement with said pad frame to release it relative tosaid'corner. frame member, said lever means being a single lever member,said corner member having a. second opening through which 'said levermeans extends outwardly of said corner member.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRISON R.MOSELEY, Primary 'Examiner..

C. D. ANGEL, Examiner.

With said lever for actuation.

1. IN A PAD FRAME LATCH MEANS FOR EVAPORATIVE COOLERS THE COMBINATIONOF: AN EVAPORATIVE COOLER MAIN FRAME HAVING A CORNER FRAME MEMBER;EVAPORATIVE COLLER PAD FRAME ADJACENT THERETO; LATCH MEANS MOVABLYMOUNTED IN SAID CORNER FRAME MEMBER AND HAVING A PAD FRAME HOLDINGPORTION PROJECTING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE OUTER SIDE OF ONE OF SAIDEVAPORATIVE COOLER PAD FRAMES AND ENGAGING THE OUTER SIDE THEREOF; LEVERMEANS CONNECTED TO SAID LATCH MEANS AND A SPRING PORTION OF SAID LATCHMEANS TENDING TO HOLD SAID LATCH MEANS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ONE PADFRAME TO HOLD IT IN POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID CORNER FRAME MEMBER; SAIDLEVER MEANS BEING A SINGLE LEVER MEMBER; SAID CORNER MEMBER HAVING ANOPENING THROUGH WHICH SAID LEVER EXTENDS OUTWARDLY OF SAID CORNERMEMBER; SAID LATCH MEANS HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS, ONE OF WHICH CARRIES SAIDPAD FRAME HOLDING PORTION AND THE OTHER END OF WHICH CARRIES A SIMILARPORTION, SAID CORNER MEMBER HAVING OPENINGS THEREIN THROUGH WHICH SAIDFIRST MENTIONED AND SIMILAR PORTIONS EXTEND.